2013-12-25

Dark Paths 41

What An Incredible Smell You've Discovered

Session Summary

Eviana

The Crew is tasked by Eviana, the Elf leader of the Farstriders of Mierani, to make an assault on a building in the north east of Celwynvian that is believed to be an alchemical laboratory where the Drow are manufacturing their poisonous and alchemical mixtures.

Eager to take up the fight once more against the Drow, the Crew accepts the mission and heads off into the forest, following their companion, Kwava.

Upon arriving at the tower, the disgusting plume of acrid smoke nearly blocks out the sky above the forest, billowing up and out of several large holes in the roof of the tower. The Crew observed the tower for a time and not spying any movement from within the tower or the ruins surrounding the lone entrance, they decided to make their move.

A Drow + Spider = umm.... Drider!

Armed with a vial of Alchemist's Fire, Guy floated up to the roof while the others began a stealthy approach toward the tower on the ground. As they got close, lightning bolts began flying from a dark place in the ruins, striking Aragon and stunning him. Shortly after that, a disturbing amalgamationof Drow and spider appeared climbing out of the ruins and flinging more lightning bolts.

Paal, Aethel and Bodi all engaged this beast with their ranged attacks, Paal with his bow, Aethel with lightning of his own and Bodi with commandeered Drow crossbows loaded with enchanted bolts. Aragon was able to throw off the stun and quickly move to engage the spider Drow beast after it had leaped to the ground. Snargash charged into the ruins, his approach slowed considerably when he got to the swampy much created by the leftover alchemical agents. The fumes rising off this mire nearly made him sick, but he continued on, heading to the interior of the building. He was then engaged by some Troglodytes charging out from the inside of the Tower. The monk then let out an empowered shout, stunning the first Trog as Aethel swooped down to assist him, throwing lightning at another approaching Trog.Back outside, Bodi charged over and finished off the spider Drow as Paal continued peppering him with arrows. Everyone then turned their attention to the inside of the tower and their true objective: putting a stop to the Drow alchemical laboratory.

Continuing Story Summary

The Crew continues their assault on the Drow alchemical site. Snargash leads the charge in through the muck and alchemical covered ground, into the main tower with Aethel flying in right behind him. They have met with some Troglodyte resistance in the doorway. Aragon and Bodi finish dealing with the Drow/ spider abomination outside while Paal covers them with his bow. Meanwhile, Guy hovers above the tower, watching the handiwork of the fire he started in the roof. He considers flying back down on the outside, or maneuvering inside one of the many gaping holes in the tower’s roof and descending inside the tower.

Strange smells, sounds and lights emanate from inside the tower.

Paal says, "Lets get this manufactory shut down and get out of here. The odor is horrid."

Bodi looks at what is going on right now. “We decided to set the roof on fire why? Don’t we need to get inside there? Now we just made it tougher on ourselves.”

Bodi steps back from the horrifying looking half-spider/half-drow creature. “I can’t imagine someone would want to mate with a Spider...even I have my limits.”

Bodi then cleans the blood off of his blades, sheaths them and recovers the two hand-held crossbows he used and reloads them, this time both with the green acid-tipped darts. “Let’s see how they like a taste of their own medicine…”

The monk calls over his shoulder, “Thank you Mr. Aethel. If you could be so kind as to cover me a couple of seconds more, I think I’ll join you above the muck while I still have boots on. . .” and begins playing his staff once more.

Guy decides to approach one of the holes in the roof, taking a moment to peer through it in case he can see any threats inside before continuing to descend through the interior of the tower.

Bodi steps up with crossbows loaded and starts to make a careful move towards the area where the troglodytes came from. He carefully moves, curious if more resistance awaits them all.

Paal, Bodi and Aragon all approach the tower, stopping just short of the alchemical spill on the ground, meanwhile, up above, Guy works his way through the rafters and structural works forming the crumbling dome of the tower. Snargash steps back around the corner of the tower entrance and begins the Raag that will allow him to levitate up above the caustic mire he is stepping in. Aethel moves in front of him as two Troglodytes further in the tower take position.

As Snargash begins casting, the approaching Trog flings a glass beaker at him, though it flies very wide, landing no where near the Half Orc monk. As Paal, Bodi and Aragon contemplating getting past the caustic mire on the ground near the ruins, the entire entry way and surrounding area is plunged into magical Drow darkness. Snargash and Aethel cannot see a thing!

“Oh, bloody hell,” says Aragon as he sees the Darkness field cover his friends. Hoping that the Drow magic of his shoes still works, he runs up the side of the building, then turns and heads into the darkness! “On your right!” he shouts.